Health Violations Found TX 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Richland Special Utility District

EPA ID: TX2060012 · 2,505 people served · 7 ZIP codes

Within the EPA compliance database, Richland Special Utility District shows 5 violations still pending resolution — a status that applies across the full service territory of approximately 2,505 people and reflects findings that have not yet cleared the federal enforcement process or received formal closure.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

A · 98
Avg Safety Score
2,505
People Served
7
ZIP Codes Served
11
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0026 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
5
Contaminants Flagged
$166K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 4 (2023) to 34 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Richland Special Utility District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$66,459
Median Household Income
13,213
Service Area Population
60%
Disadvantaged Population
76th
Poverty Percentile
71th
Energy Burden Percentile
68%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Richland Special Utility District serves a community with a median household income of $66,459 and an estimated 13,213 residents across its service area. Approximately 68% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 60% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Richland Special Utility District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
4th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 3% of homes in McCulloch County, Texas rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

59 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
9 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 87% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Richland Special Utility District compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Revised Total Coliform Rule at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Texas

0 violations
A 6 violations
City of Merkel
2,494 people
0 violations
City of Hooks
2,518 people
A 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $600
Water Filtration $360
Total Estimated Cost $960

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,000
10 years
$10,000
20 years
$20,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $960 (one-time) vs. $10,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Richland Special Utility District (EPA ID: TX2060012) is a community water system in Texas that serves approximately 2,505 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 7 ZIP codes across 7 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: A (98/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 5 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
May 1, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Unresolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 2, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
December 31, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
December 30, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 4 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
76871 0.0026 mg/L No N/A
76832 0.0025 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by TX or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Richland Special Utility District (TX2060012) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Richland Special Utility District water safe to drink?

Richland Special Utility District has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Richland Special Utility District serve?

Richland Special Utility District serves approximately 2,505 people across 7 ZIP codes in Texas.

Where does Richland Special Utility District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
1,249
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Reporting compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 2E.
Compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 4G.
Population served: 2,505
Reported to Texas

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Richland Special Utility District safe to drink?
Richland Special Utility District earns a A safety grade with 11 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Richland Special Utility District's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Stage 2 DBP Rule, Lead and Copper Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Richland Special Utility District serve?
Richland Special Utility District serves approximately 2,505 people with drinking water across 7 ZIP codes.
What is Richland Special Utility District's water source?
Richland Special Utility District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Richland Special Utility District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0026 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Richland Special Utility District's service area?
The Richland Special Utility District service area has a median household income of $66,459. EPA EJScreen data classifies 60% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Richland Special Utility District get its water?
Richland Special Utility District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Richland Special Utility District (EPA ID: TX2060012) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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